Poppinga still recovering from knee injury

[Zero2Cool]

By GARY D'AMATO
[email protected]
Posted: June 10, 2006[align=right]

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Green Bay - It's a good thing the Green Bay Packers' trainers are present during the team's voluntary practices, because, otherwise, Brady Poppinga might succumb to temptation, grab his helmet and sprint onto the field.

Not quite six months removed from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the second-year linebacker swears he's ready to go full speed.

Not at the start of the regular season.

Not at the start of training camp.

Now. Today.

"I pretty much can do it all," he said. "There have been no setbacks. There's no soreness. It's amazing, actually. Every day it feels stronger and stronger. It's very close to being like it never happened."

With a surgically repaired ACL, rehabilitation is a nine- to 12-month proposition. Unless, of course, you happen to be a hyperactive, motor-always-going Type A personality who plays linebacker in the National Football League and who once said of soccer: "I just don't like to run without hitting people."

Then the rehab period is about, oh, two days.

Poppinga is a fast healer, but he knows his knee is not yet as stable as it feels and that the Packers are wise to protect him from himself (not to mention their investment in the 2005 fourth-round draft pick out of Brigham Young).

For now, he is limited to running in a controlled environment, because even in no-contact drills, there is the danger of tripping over a fallen teammate or inadvertently colliding with an offensive lineman.

So as the Packers practice under new head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Bob Sanders, Poppinga paces the sideline like a caged animal.

"It sucks," he said, eyes smoldering with intensity. "I mean, it's terrible. It's not fun. To me, it's 10 times harder sitting there and watching and not being able to be out there getting the reps I want and need.

"It would be really hard for me right now if there was no one there to hold me back. I might go out there. I probably would go out there."

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Poppinga had emerged as one of the Packers' top special-teams players and was making his first start at linebacker Dec. 11 when he suffered the ACL tear while covering a kick in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions.

Despite missing the final three games, he finished second on the team with 22 special-teams tackles, just five off the franchise record of 27 set by Guy Prather in 1981.

At linebacker, Poppinga made 10 tackles and had two sacks, mostly as a situational player. For example, on Oct. 23, he played just two snaps against Minnesota as a stand-up pass rusher in the 3-2 nickel package - but on one of those plays he sacked Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper for a 14-yard loss.

"He was very productive on special teams and was starting to show some of that (at linebacker)," Sanders said. "Then he had the unfortunate injury."

It's not the first time the 26-year-old Poppinga has faced adversity. A devout Mormon, he spent two years in Uruguay on a mission in 1999 and 2000 and learned some hard lessons.

"It really tests your belief system," he said. "Are you going to fight through it and be tough, or are you going to let it get to you and be discouraged? Are you going to give up?

"There's a rejection factor. Not everybody wants to hear a message. Not everybody cares. People treat you badly. People slam doors in your face, tell you off, laugh at you. It teaches you to be persistent, diligent and undaunted. Those are qualities you need in football. It transfers over beautifully."

Though Poppinga hasn't been able to get back on the field, he has observed practice and likes what he sees in the young defense.

"Collectively, the defense is a lot better than it was a year ago," he said. "I like the energy. I don't know if it's because of comfort level or maybe, finally guys are feeding off of each other. I don't know what it is, but it's fun to watch. It's like a work of art. It's beautiful."

Green Bay's linebackers are in a state of transition. Veterans Na'il Diggs and Paris Lenon are gone. Fourth-year pro Nick Barnett is the most experienced returning player, and five rookies are in the mix for spots on the roster.

Poppinga said it doesn't matter to him whether he starts or comes off the bench. Either way, he doesn't envision his role changing much.

"I feel I bring a certain intensity and energy to the team, and I'm going to make plays," he said. "That's basically who I am."

 

[tromadz]

good for him. Depth is good. Having a good Special teams is also good. Good.

 

[packedhouse01]

I don't know, Poppinga didn't show me much last year. Maybe he can turn into a servicable backup. I don't think he's going to be any kind of an impact type player.

 

[porky88]

I don't know, Poppinga didn't show me much last year. Maybe he can turn into a servicable backup. I don't think he's going to be any kind of an impact type player.

I agree although it was his 1st year so, I wasn't expecting him to be a standout on our defense. I think as a special teams star and top backup to Ben Taylor at SLB, he'd be nice. Though I still don't see him being ready for the opener.

 

[60six]

If Brady doesnt go on PUP to start the season,White and Cambell are fighting for the #6 spot thats not there.Hodge and Manning are 4-5

 

[CaliforniaCheez]

Risking the futue of his career by coming back too early is a bad thing.

Many players have done this and made the injury worse(like Jerry Rice).

His injury was in December and most experts say it takes a year to fully recover not just "feel good". He may be able to run but hitting and getting hit at the NFL level is too much right now.

I don't expect much from him this year but will look for good play next year. He played DE in college so he was still getting used to a new position and the NFL during his rookie year.

Last year's rookies(Collins, Whitticker, Manning, Underwood, Montgomery, Rodgers, Hawkins) should show a lot of improvement. With Poppinga I expect little unless he further injures himself. No one wants that.

The PUP makes him inactive for the first 6 games. The Packers then have 2 more weeks(until 8th week of season) to activate him, cut him or put him on the IR.

IMHO he should be placed on the PUP and if no other LB goes on the IR then he should be placed on the IR and so the Packers retain rights to him next year. If another LB is on the IR before then, the Packers can activate him but keep him off the game day 45 roster unless absolutely needed.

Taylor and White are on one year contracts. In 07 the Packers will have Barnett, Hawk, Hodge, Poppinga, Manning(?), Campbell(?) and may want to sign Taylor or White again.

Campbell is practice squad eligible.

Isn't it nice to have too many players at some positions unlike last year when we talked about the holes in the Packers roster?